Miami Beach Physician Sentenced in Medicare Fraud Scheme

Miami Beach Physician Sentenced in Medicare Fraud Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Ryan P. Lynch, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, announce that Christopher Gregory Wayne, 54, an osteopathic physician residing in Miami Beach, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. to 70 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, Judge Scola entered a $1.6 million forfeiture money judgment against Wayne and ordered the forfeiture of his Miami Beach residence and a 2002 Mercedes Benz. Christopher Gregory Wayne was also ordered to pay restitution to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the amount of $1,649,042, the amount of loss suffered by the Medicare program.

Wayne previously pled guilty to a criminal information that charges him with health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the narcotics laws of the United States. In his plea, Wayne admitted to executing a scheme to defraud the Medicare program and attempting to cause a loss in excess of $2,500,000 to Medicare. Wayne also admitted that he conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, such as oxycodone, outside the scope of professional medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, knowing that controlled substances would be distributed illegally.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of HHS-OIG, FBI, and DEA. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Morales, Brent Tantillo, and Evelyn B. Sheehan.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.